[Adopted 12-3-2015]
A.
The City's
Complete Streets Policy ensures that pedestrian, bicycle and transit
facilities are fully integrated into a safe and efficient transportation
system. Specifically, it is City policy to:
(1)
Safely
accommodate pedestrians, bicycles and, when appropriate, transit facilities
on every surface street.
(2)
Minimize
and mitigate environmental impacts for all transportation projects.
(3)
Encourage
alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles.
(4)
Improve
utilization of intelligent transportation systems for transit priority
and potentially other opportunities.
(5)
Ensure
sidewalks on all new and reconstructed streets, except alleys, and
shared streets.
(6)
Design
new and reconstructed streets to promote green infrastructure (e.g.,
vegetated swales and rain gardens) when feasible within existing rights-of-way
and without conflicting with transportation needs and street trees.
(7)
Ensure
City-reconstructed streets are consistent with subdivision regulations
(e.g., sidewalk and curb materials, dimensions) to the extent existing
layouts and resources allow.
(8)
Calm
traffic and interconnect public streets to preserve pedestrian safety
and encourage pedestrian activity in neighborhoods and villages and
prohibit gated private streets.
(9)
Fully
develop the bicycle network so that 75% of households are within 1/2
mile of a multiuse trail and 85% of households are within 1/2 mile
of a bicycle lane or trail.
(10)
Avoid street widening and additional lanes that will induce new traffic.
(11)
Ensure the design and construction of all new, reconstructed, reclaimed
streets, including mill-and-overlay projects, incorporate appropriate
traffic-calming measures, accessibility improvements, and bicycle
and pedestrian facilities. Mill-and-overlay projects shall include
sidewalks when in the priority areas below. Design exceptions because
of right-of-way constraints or very low current and potential demand
shall be made only with Transportation and Parking Commission approval.
B.
Specific
design criteria that should typically accompany complete streets in
Northampton include the following. These should be added when those
streets are reconstructed:
(1)
Cement
concrete sidewalks on both sides of streets in all business, industrial,
mixed-use and urban residential zoning districts when right-of-way
width allows. Cement or bituminous concrete sidewalks in other districts
within one mile of Florence Center, Northampton Central Business District,
all K-12 schools, wherever a sidewalk would reduce the need for public
school bus service, along any new street, in dense, walkable neighborhoods,
and in areas with clear pedestrian desire lines that will result in
significant sidewalk utilization. Sidewalks are not expected in the
most rural areas of the City although gravel sidepaths and other trails
may still be appropriate.
(2)
Intersection
improvements should ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists,
minimize the loss of green space and tree canopy, decrease stormwater
runoff, and avoid detrimental impacts on neighborhoods and adjoining
streets.
(3)
Lane
width should be 10 feet wide to 11 feet wide for two-way streets.
(4)
Curb
radius at intersections shall be as small as possible to slow traffic
speed and shorten crosswalk crossing distances, with large trucks
(WB-69 trucks) accommodated only when supported by truck traffic counts
that demand a wider radius.
(5)
To
minimize pavement and crossing distances, turn lanes should be provided
only when critically needed, and curb extensions should be installed
whenever feasible at crosswalks and intersections.
(6)
New
subdivisions and roads should utilize short block lengths.
(7)
Roundabouts,
which are the favored intersection treatment except in the center
of Florence and downtown, should be used instead of signals whenever
possible. Roundabouts and mini-roundabouts should be evaluated during
the preliminary engineering analysis for all intersections being considered
for significant reconstruction, realignment, signalization, and four-way
stops. The Transportation and Parking Commission shall approve any
decision to use a signal instead of a roundabout except in downtown
and Florence Center.
(8)
Audible
pedestrian signals at all traffic signals when traffic controllers
are upgraded. Where no sidewalks exist, traffic signal equipment should
be installed that will allow for future pedestrian signalization.
(9)
Prioritize
retrofitting streets to add sidewalks for all streets within one mile
of all public schools and downtown Northampton and Florence Center
when streets are reconstructed, milled and overlaid, or otherwise
when sidewalk funding is available.
[Added 12-7-2017 by Ord.
No. 17.397[1]]
A.
PUBLIC PLACES
SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY
Definitions.
For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Streets, sidewalks, lots, parks, and the steps in front of
City Hall.
Hardware or software that records and/or transmits the image,
identity, movement or actions of individuals or vehicles in public
places, including but not limited to video cameras, license plate
readers, and facial recognition systems.
B.
Prohibition.
Within the Central Business District, surveillance technology shall
not be deployed and/or operated in a fixed location for a period of
more than one day on City property or property leased and/or controlled
by the City.
C.
Exception.
The prohibition shall not apply:
(1)
At
the police station on Center Street.
(2)
To
security cameras that monitor parking structures, including the police
station parking deck, so long as such cameras do not monitor public
places outside of the parking structure.
(3)
When
the use of surveillance technology is temporary and the purpose is
to prevent or mitigate imminent and serious risk to the public in
emergency situations.
(4)
When
the use of surveillance technology is temporary and the purpose is
in connection to a specific and time-limited criminal investigation.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance was disapproved by the Mayor
12-18-2017, which disapproval was overridden by the Council 1-10-2018.
